Chasing Ephemerality




Doesn't the intrigue in ephemerality come with a tag of pricelessness? The transience of autumn colours, bioluminiscence, or dance of auroras have lured photographers and travellers eternally to brave inhospitable weather for a heavenly glimpse of these fleeting phenomena. We are no exceptions to the rule.

There was a time when flaming maple and aspens bedecked our backyard in the US at Nashua, New Hampshire. Every October we drove in droves to Flume Gorge, White Mountains in New Hampshire and Vermont to feel the vibrant autumn vibes. The New England area never failed to regale us with its romantic beauty, brightness, and brilliance. 

Moving to Sydney was a relief from the chill of temperate climate. But that also meant the colossal maples in the city simply turned brown in fall skipping the splendour of bright yellow, orange, red hues. Experiencing autumn meant chasing the ephemeral happening to faraway areas that only had a little touch of colours in swathes of land wrapped with the evergreen gum trees. And yet we decided to travel to lap up whatever the coveted autumn destinations dished out.

Hitting the spots at the perfect time - not so early that the leaves weren't willing to change colours, not so late that the deciduous trees only had bare branches to offer - we finally got the taste of autumn flavours this year at Meadow Flat, Bathurst, and Orange. Copse of golden columnar poplar popped up every now and then amidst the greens like towering fiery sticks. In one particular grammable spot, on our way to Orange, they flanked the road to form a fairytale tunnel. 

Orange itself, to our surprise, was ablaze with warm colours of the spectrum. A slew of poplars on either side of Mitchell Highway welcomed us. Sun, setting just behind the wall of these poplars, rendered them ethereal. Most of the streets were walls of gold and cinnabar. Pockets were peppered with red, orange, maroon, yellow - though not as enticing as White Mountains, was substantial to slake our chase.  

Here are a few captures from our short trip that includes Apple Picking at Bilpin Farm en route to Orange. 


Fairytale tunnel 





The Fallen - PC my son

Entering Orange 




Lake Cannobolas Reserve













Alpaca poses



Orange Botanical Gardens, Orange





Photo bombed by a swooping magpie

Flaming streets of Orange
















Poplars by Mitchell Highway 

Bathurst 






Mount Panorama




The Big Gold Panner

Abercrombie House



Golden Poplar revisited 





Bilpin Farm animals 

Apple Picking at Bilpin Farm



Royal Botanic Gardens 


...and some food

Dona, Sydney, April '24


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